Shedeur Sanders loves the fans — but they might love him too much back.
The Browns backup quarterback heard a wild roar of the crowd when he ran onto the field to start the second half in a 16-10 game after starter Dillon Gabriel was pulled from the game with a concussion.
Sanders, 23, said he was very thankful to hear the fans’ support, but with a major caveat.
“Yeah, I’m extremely thankful,” Sanders told reporters. “Well, first let me say this: When Dillon’s out there playing, all that — I appreciate the fans I appreciate everybody, but it don’t really… I’m a good person overall, so I don’t really like him not feeling comfortable, confident, you know, when he gets out there. So, you know, it puts everything in a tough spot, and you know, it’s not helping the team.”
The fans likely thought that Sanders was coming in as a replacement given the timing, rather than knowing Gabriel was being pulled due to injury.
Regardless, Sanders wants to be as little of a sideshow as possible, considering his pre-NFL draft fall came with loads of fanfare.
“So that could be taken as, okay, I’m being a distraction, and even though I ain’t doing that. You know? I’m not doing nothing,” Sanders said. “But I’m thankful for the supporters, thankful for the fans. Thank you for everybody out there that believes. And yeah, when I got out there, I definitely felt them. And you know, I am truly thankful for it. Yeah, I’m just… I’m thankful for seeing all them 12 jerseys out there, and it was a great feeling.”
Sanders really struggled in his first taste of NFL action in Sunday’s eventual 23-16 loss.
The former Colorado product went 4-for-16 with 47 yards and an interception as the Browns were held scoreless in the second half.
Sanders added three carries for 16 yards.
With Gabriel entering concussion protocol, it is entirely possible that Sanders enters Week 12 as the starter for the Browns as they head to Las Vegas to face the Raiders.
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